I have decided that my goal in life is to save 38/44's from the converter desire to kill them and modify them into something they were never meant to be. I have seen too many nice 38/44's both Heavy Duty's and Outdoorsman's converted or changed into 44/40's, 45 colts, 357 mags or some oddball thing like 10mm monoclipped guns.

Yes they are others guns, and they can do what they want with them but I can have an impact on the problem. If I start buying every 38/44 in good shape that I see, I will effectively reduce the supply and make it cheaper to convert Pre-28's and Pre-27's into some modified thing.

I know this will be difficult and painful but it is a cross I will try to bear.

So, with that said, I rescued 2 more today from the converters torch and drill press.


The first is a nice bright blued (refinished?) 38/44 outdoorsman target that has lost its magnas. I will have to find a nice set that fits, but the first step is to document the as is state.



This brings me to 4 postwar Outdoorsman's, 1 of which has never been fired and one has seen only light use.



As a comparison of the blueing look at these two OD's.



The second is a very nice 4" postwar 38/44 that has seen very little use at all. There is only minimal marks on the gun.




This brings me to 3 postwar 3844Heavy Duties.



Very nice gun all in all. It was better than my other 4" postwar so it will go into the unshootable grouping.

So 3 saved from conversion in 2 days. I think I know of a 5" postwar that needs to be saved and i will continue to hunt for them. I know I won't get them all seeing as there are over 40,000 of them out there, but I can get some protected.

This will go down as a good week for 38/44's.

Long live the 38/44!

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SWCA 1646

A worthy goal Peter. Go for it!!

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Eccentric old coot

0.1% of the total has been saved so far.

It is a worthy goal to do. It gives me a purpose in my collection.

Take care and have fun up there.

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SWCA 1646

No wonder the supply out here has dryed up. You have them all at your house.
Nice additions.

I'm with you Peter. I think too many people think of the HDs and the Outdoorsmen as "38 Specials" instead of what they were intended to be...38/44s. That cartridge (properly loaded 38 Special cases) is so much more authoritative and impressive out of these great old guns that if people could actually shoot real 38/44s I don't think they would be quite so willing to do so many conversions.

My $.02 worth,
Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

Good for you, Peter. I have a few .38/44s, both pre- and postwar varieties, with both ODs and HDs found among their number. They are wonderful guns and I applaud your rescue and preservation work.

But please don't buy them so frequently and aggressively that you drive the prices up.

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David Wilson

Well done! The nice ones should be saved! I've seen a few really rough ones that, IMHO, are candidates for conversion, as long as they are done with care by a high quality gunsmith. I must admit I would love a nice Bowen .45!

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Even older, even crankier....

Way to go Pete! You probably have more than I do! Keep up the good work!
Bill

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38-44heavyduty.com

Very Nice collection there my friend. I applaud your efforts.
While some will like to convert guns into what they we're not
meant to be some like yourself will continue to preserve these
fine treasures for the ages. Just don't buy them all.....haha


chuck

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They hold no Quarter

Is there evidence of a refinish on your latest OD? It may have shipped as a bright blue gun, which as you know may be indicated in a factory letter.

Bill, I've seen your .38/44 collection, you are being far too modest .

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Good save. Peter. Keep up the good work.

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Living a dream - S&WCA #2364

I don't see the evidence of the refinish on the bright blue one but the seller thought it was.

I will factory letter it and just see what is was like out of the factory. If it is a refinish I have a new 38/44 shooter that is really nice (once I get magnas back on it) if it is not, then it is another 38/44 that will be retired from shooting until I retire from this earth. I have a bunch that I am now just "storing" in my safe.

I am actually thinking a better approach for those "never to be fired by me or never fired at all" guns may be a safe deposit box at my bank. Take them out once a year for lubing and otherwise just let them protect the guns.

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SWCA 1646